Note: While writing this, I pictured Galveston since it's the one beach I've visited since I was little. Fun(?) Fact: In Galveston they plaque markers showing how high the water was from Ike. When you see how high the plaques and paint markers are, it kind of makes you realize the force of nature.

I own nothing!

The first night of the cruise did not end as smoothly as Kevin had hoped. He'd planned on surprising Eddward with a birthday cruise, getting some kind of sexual favour out of it before exploring the ship before it set sails. Then they would eat dinner and then Kevin and Eddward would end the day watching the ocean and then have some great sea sex.

But the day hadn't gone at all how he'd planned. Not at all.

First, after Eddward had hugged and kissed him, there had been no thank-you-blow-job or even hand job. Eddward had stood up and began applying his usual amount of sunscreen over his arms and shoulders, insisting Kevin do the same.

Then they had ventured out onto the deck and found an old couple playing shuffleboard and a few children running around with a ball. There were no real sails, just large propellers and two smoke stacks that weren't really smoke stacks.

They had lain out in the sun on a few chairs, waiting for the horn to blow, signaling the passengers and other ships that they were about to head out of port. Eddward kept close to Kevin, shy in his new environment, but still excited as a little boy.

Near dinner time, Eddward got sick. He'd run to a bathroom and promptly thrown up into a toilet, curled around the bowl and hugging the seat. That was odd behaviour for the germaphobe, but Kevin knew it must have been seasickness and that it would pass once Eddward got used to the gentle almost nonexistent rocking of the ship.

The initial sickness had passed, but Eddward refused to leave for dinner, saying he couldn't stomach anything and stayed in bed, a trashcan next to it ready just in case. Eddward insisted Kevin go eat something and so he had, he'd left to grab something quick and then came back to find Eddward sleeping, a pillow over his head and the blankets cocooned around him. At least, he noted thankfully, the trashcan was empty.

The second day, Eddward was still a little woozy, but the ship would be docking soon at a port on an island not far from the mainland. Kevin would take Eddward out and they would forget about the illness and have a good time.

The island, it turned out, seemed to have a large population of stray cats. Kevin really wished he'd done his research better. He hated cats. Their first experience with one of the paradoxical felines, they had been walking on a semi-quiet sidewalk toward what looked like a nice café.

The cat had strut out of an alley for all it was worth, looking as if it owned the damn island. Kevin had been tempted to kick it, but Eddward stooped down and pet the furry monster. The cat purred and nuzzled his fingers and glared up at Kevin. Eddward swiped his hands with some anti-bacterial soap and they were on their way again.

This happened maybe three more times, every single cat glaring at Kevin (one even daring to hiss at him) while Eddward pet them and commented on how friendly they were.

Once they got back on the ship and were sailing for another island and Kevin and Edd were lain out in chairs once more, the two soaking up some much needed sun, Kevin decided to ask what Eddward wanted to do since the hat-clad boy had just been following Kevin around since they'd left the house.

"Oh, I don't know," Eddward said. "I was looking up what the next island has in store for us on my phone, though. It seems there is a small nature preserve with historical value. I'm sure it would be nice to see and take in."

Kevin chuckled. "As long as you don't take any notes. This is your birthday present and I won't have you learning on it."

Eddward laughed too. "Good thing for you I did not think to bring my notebook with me then." He leaned over and kissed Kevin and whispered, "Thank you."